Genius Club

Lin Xian couldn’t shake the worry that plagued his mind. The haunting image of Xu Yi Yi lying comatose in a hospital bed constantly intruded on his thoughts. His greatest fear was that she might never witness the realization of the hibernation pods.

Professor Xu Yun, however, appeared remarkably composed. With a light-hearted chuckle, he said, “Creating the kind of hibernation pods you see in sci-fi movies, the ones that allow for centuries of sleep, is going to take us quite a while.”

“But that doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause. Most people aren’t preparing for long space trips. Someone like my daughter, Yi Yi, or cancer patients in critical stages only need another decade or two—just enough time for medical advancements to catch up.”

Pausing to watch a mouse scurry across the floor, Xu Yun continued, “According to my calculations, with adequate funding from the government, we could have a prototype in two to three years that would slow human biological processes by tenfold.”

“Reducing biological activity by ten times is a significant achievement. For Yi Yi, spending ten years in such a pod would mean she’d only age one year. Meanwhile, medical science might advance enough to even enhance the pod’s capabilities.”

Impressed, Lin Xian nodded. “When do you plan to go public with these findings, Professor Xu?”

“Not for another week at least,” replied Xu Yun, shuffling his papers. “But expect an announcement soon.”

He then handed Lin Xian a document. “While researching, I discovered a byproduct and sent it for verification to a colleague at the National Aerospace Research Institute.”

The document was filled with complex molecular formulas that were beyond Lin Xian’s comprehension. “What’s this?” he asked.

“It’s a novel aluminum-based compound. This could lead to new, highly durable, corrosion-resistant, and heat-resistant aluminum alloys, pivotal in aerospace technologies. I plan to publish these findings too. The potential applications could revolutionize several technological fields.”

“Of course,” Lin Xian acknowledged, recognizing the significance of such interdisciplinary progress. “I’ll let you get back to your research then. I’m looking forward to your publication.”

A few days later, three pieces of exciting news circulated.

First, headlines across various media platforms announced, “Professor Xu Yun from Donghai University cracks major hibernation technology challenge.” This breakthrough indicated that such futuristic technology, typically reserved for science fiction, might soon become a reality.

Every major news outlet featured Xu Yun:

“National Aerospace Research Institute to announce new aerospace material by Professor Xu Yun.”

“The United States plans to establish a top-tier lab for advanced hibernation technology.”

“The Nobel Prize committee shows interest in Professor Xu Yun’s work, considering a nomination if his findings hold.”

“A Father’s Decade: The Untold Story of Xu Yun.”

After years of tireless work, Professor Xu Yun had evolved from an obscure academic to a globally recognized innovator.

The second thrilling announcement was about MX Company launching a new product under the newly unveiled Rhine brand. The initial moisturizer product exceeded sales expectations, and the accompanying Rhine Cat plush toy became a viral sensation.

Thanks to Xu Yun’s newfound fame, pre-orders for the moisturizer soared, firmly establishing the Rhine brand as a leader in the beauty product market.

The third piece of news concerned Lin Xian’s own promotion.

In her office, Zhao Ying Jun began, “Lin Xian, the Rhine Cat’s online success has been phenomenal. The fashion world is buzzing about your design.”

“We’ve received numerous collaboration requests, both domestically and internationally. To manage this, I plan to expand your Rhine Cat IP development team to about thirty members.”

“And you, Lin Xian,” Zhao Ying Jun continued, her arms crossed, “will have complete control over personnel decisions. Hiring, firing, salaries, and performance reviews—it’s all in your hands now.”

This was an unprecedented move for a team leader. Previously, only three vice presidents and Zhao Ying Jun herself had held such authority.

Zhao Ying Jun’s smile widened. “This shows our trust in and recognition of your capabilities. You’ll remain the team leader for Rhine Cat, but you’ll enjoy the benefits and salary of a vice president, including annual stock options.”

A vice president’s benefits? Lin Xian had yet to cash his first paycheck as a team leader, yet he was already stepping into a vice president’s shoes.

He felt like a character in a video game, leveling up rapidly, his attributes skyrocketing with each achievement.

But he knew Zhao Ying Jun’s strategy. She offered him immense power to keep him at MX Company, aware that he might otherwise consider leaving.

However, Lin Xian had no intention of leaving. He valued MX Company and respected Zhao Ying Jun’s leadership.

Moreover, leaving would mean losing the only connecting clue to the coveted invitation to the Genius Club and the mysterious organization behind it.

Until he explored what the invitation entailed, he decided to stay with MX Company.

“One last thing,” Zhao Ying Jun added, glancing at Lin Xian, “your new office on the 20th floor is ready. It’s much larger than your previous one. Feel free to check it out.”

With that, she dismissed him.

Exiting Zhao Ying Jun’s office, Lin Xian felt the world shift around him. His team had expanded, he had full control over personnel decisions, his salary matched that of a vice president, and a spacious new office awaited him, complete with a safe and potential royalties from the new chemical discovery.

“Leveling up too quickly,” Lin Xian mused, rubbing his neck as he approached the elevator.

The elevator doors opened on the 20th floor, revealing his new office. It was triple the size of his previous one, featuring a separate resting area, a large coffee table, a long sofa, bookshelves filled with greenery, a luxurious desk, a high-end desktop, and a laptop.

Everything was a significant upgrade from his setup on the 17th floor.

Lin Xian moved his personal items into his new office, adding personal touches to make it feel like home. Settling into the executive chair, he relaxed and thought, “No more late nights.”

“Tonight, I can finally dive into the dream and open that safe!”